Hinge for folding backpacks



Dec. 20, 1966 R. G. MACK 3,292,830

HINGE FOR FOLDING BACKPACKS Filed Oct. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. RICHARD 6. MACK um, ifiqw aw Dec. 20, 1966 R. G. MACK HINGE FOR FOLDING BACKPACKS Filed not. 22, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR R/CHA/PD 6. MACK BY Z ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,292,830 HINGE FOR FOLDING BACKPACKS Richard G. Mack, 807 Carney Row, Monterey, Calif. 93940 Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,774 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-9) It is well known that backpacks for hiking and for the transport of all manner of things on ones back, must be extremely sturdy and must be able to withstand uses which can reasonably be expected and anticipated by the manufacturer, and even misuses. The requirement for sturdiness for the backpack is countered by the necessity of having it as light in weight as possible. Thus there is a constant structural compromise between strength and light Weight.

In addition to the backpack being strong enough and light enough for effective use, to be really eflicient it should be capable of folding into a compact unit for storage when not in use. Also the backpack being small, light weight and strong, must double in many services such as the conversion to a chair when not being used as a backpack and when not in storage. In this connection folding is not only a necessary factor but a problem. The hinge and the locking brace for the hinge must become operatively positioned with little or no effort on behalf of the user and lock in this position so as not to collapse or distort under unusual pressures. The hinges and braces of former backpacks have been a source of concern and perhaps weakness, and have pointed up the necessity for further improvements in this particular area.

Earlier hinge structures are demonstrated in applicants issued patents, references to which are made 'as follows:

In Patent No. 2,822,117 which issued February 4, 1958, for a Carrier, the structure shown and described is a 3,292,830 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 to make them convertible to all types and kinds of uses,

backpack primarily for carrying a child. This backpack may be folded for storage and space saving. Since it is intended for infants and young children, no great weight is required to be supported by the back .of binge 20 to maintain the operative position (see FIGURE 4). Likewise, since the back member of the carrier in its operative position is maintained in place against the back of the wearer by means of the harness, the hinge itself does not have to accommodate any great stress and the safety of it is obvious. However, it is equally obvious that if any great weight was placed against the back member the hinge would not be able to withstand such a stress. a

In Patent No. 2,943,672 which issued July 5, 1960, for a Folding Chair, it is apparent that the back portion could not be maintained in operative position by the hinge fixture 31 as it is not strong enough to take the punishment of continued pressure. Accordingly, the hinge fixture 31 was not relied upon for the operational support of the back. To provide the additional support a latch type brace 37 is disclosed as well as the fixed position brace 37a which has'a slot for moving in and out of use. While each of these braces is effective as a brace for the back and will support it against great stresses, far greater than would ever be encountered, there is the hazard in the use of both of these braces of being knocked out of operative position by an unexpected blow, or of being insecurely locked and thus endanger the user when using the device as a seat or chair.

Patent No. 2,967,649 which issued January 10, 1961 is for a Pack Harness. The disclosure is far more than this however, for it includes a folding backpack having a vertical portion 26 which folds down and overlays the horizontal support 25. In the operative position the verboth expected and unexpected.

It is therefore one of the objects of the present invention to provide a hinge support for backpack folding members which will be rugged enough to encounter and withstand practically any condition to which the pack frame may be subjected and which will at the same time be light in weight and require no manual adjustments of any kind.

Another object is to provide a hinge for backpack elements which moves into operating position simultaneously as the folded members are moved into position as a pack carrier.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE -1 is a side elevational view of a backpack where the back portion is hinged for folding against the support portion and wherein the hinge is in holding position;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the hinge section on a larger scale and in the operative position;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of the hinge in the folded position;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse section taken on the line IVIV of FIGURE 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view of a locking hinge in engaged position but not locked; and

FIGURE 6 is -a side elevational view of the locking hinge in the engaged or locking position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings in which like reference numerals indicate like parts in the several views, FIGURE 1 shows a side elevational view of a folding backpack, opened to the operative position but used as a chair or rest, rather than a backpack. The pack 10 has a transverse U-shaped member 11 which forms the transverse or horizontal support. Normally it is a tubular member made of aluminum preferably, with the legs of the U directed forwardly toward. the user. The back 12 is also a tubular U-shaped member with the legs pointed downwardly. The back member 12 is bent forwardly at 14 so that the transverse bar of the U at the top will approach the neck of the user. a

The open ends of the tube forming the support member 11 are closed with outwardly flaring fittings 15, having vertical slots '16 for positioning a webbing (not shown.) which is resilient but firm for engaging the back of the user just above the waist. The fittings 15 are retained in position in the tube 11 by any suitable means which are here shown as rivets 17.

The support member may have, as shown in FIGURE 1, a depending -U-shaped tubular member 18, the legs of which are hinged to the legs of support member 11. The hinging is accomplished by a continuous or unitary two leaf hinge 20. The hinges 20 have pie shaped overlapping leaves integrally connected at the back 21. The leaves straddle both the legs of member 18 and support member 11. The hinges 20 are secured to the legs of support member 11 by the pivots 22, and to the legs of member 18 by rivets 23. Also the shank of the external stud 24 passes through the hinge leaves and through the legs of member 18 at either side to hold them in a position where the butt ends will engage the underside of the legs of the support member 11, substantially at right 'which there are two, one at either side.

angles thereto, when in the operative position. 20 and the member 18 move as a unit and pivot on pivots 22 in and out of the operative position. When the -U- shaped member is notrequired for use it is rotated forwardly to a position substantially parallel to the transverse member 11, so that it underlays the same. The U-shaped member 18 can be separate pivotally mounted leg members as shown in Patent No. 2,943,672.

Themain hinge ofimpor tance here is hinge 25, of Each hinge 25 is a unitary piece of metal bent at the back 26 to form right triangular sides. The bend or back 26 is curved in section (see FIGURE 4) and occurs along the hypotenuse of the right triangular sides, leaving the base 27 and the altitude 28 open between. The hinge 25 may be out out as at 30, to further reduce unnecessary weight. The base portion 27 has forwardly projecting ears 31 at either side and astride the leg portions of the transverse member 11. The hinge 25 is pivotally secured to the leg portions of support member 11 by pivots 32. The altitude portion is pivotally secured by pivots 33 to the leg portions of the back 12 50 that in the operative position (FIGURES 1 and .2) these leg portions engage the leg portions of the transverse support 11 substantially at right angles. Pivots 32 and 33 are offset one from the other to prevent any binding or catching in moving from one position to the other.

Each end of the hypotenuse back 26 is flared outwardly at 34 and 35. It will be observed that the flare 34 engages the top of the leg portions of the transverse member 11 and cannot be movedforwardly beyond the correct operating position. Likewise, the'flare at 35 engages the curvature of and supports the leg positions of the back member 12. When the hinge is under any stress or pressure the three point contact, i.e., at 32, 34 and 35, produces a triangulation which is one of the strongest engineering supports.

The operable support position is maintained by inwardly directed dimples made in the base portion 27 of the hinge 25 at 36 and in the altitude portion 28 at 37. These dimples are of course preferably made on both sides opposing each other. The dimples 36 and 37 come to'rest with frictional engagement in detents 38 in the leg portions of the transverse member 11 and the leg portions of the back portion 12, respectively, when the pack is in the operative position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

It will be observed that when the pack is in the operative position the hinge support 25 will take an inordinate amount of pressure against the back 12 and that this is far more than required so there is a large factor of safety. The hinge cannot move laterally because of the base and altitude positions. It can only be dislodged rearwardly by a breaking of the friction grip of the dimples 36 and 37 in the detents 38 and 39.

To move the parts to the inoperative or storage position, all that is required is a sharp movement of the back at the top and rearwardly to break the frictional engagement of the dimples 36 and 37 in the detents 38 and 39, and move the back on pivots- 32 and 33 until it overlays the transverse support section 11. The'hinge members 25 will follow and pivot into the position shown in FIG- URE 3. With the member 18 folded forwardly up and under the support member 11, the backpack is in the inoperative or storage posture, and is" relatively a flat package.

- When the pack is needed for use, it is apparent that when the back 12 is moved it will also move the hinges 2-5 and that all of the members will lock in the operative position without any adjustment or other manual effort.

Referring now specifically to FIGURES and 6 there is shown therein a positive locking device for the hinge 25. Instead of the detents 38 in the horizontal member 11 and 39 in the back member 12, there are studs 38' The hinge and 39' respectively. These studs project outwardly from the members to which they are secured sufiiciently to receive the thickness of the hinge between the head and the members. The forwardly projecting portion of the base 31 of the hinge 25 is slotted as at 41 so that the hinge is free to move laterally within the slot 41.

Likewise the hinge 33 mounted on the back member 12 is free to move vertically within the confines of the slot 40. Slightly in advance, of the same places where the detents 36 and 37 of the hinge were located there are now bayonet slots 42 and 43 respectively.

As shown in FIGURE 5 the studs 38' and 39' have been received within the first portion of the slots 42 and 43. It will be observed that the back member 12 in this position is spaced upwardly from the perimeter of the transverse member 11. A downward push of the back member 12 not only pushes the shank of the stud 39" down into the vertical slot 43 to the locking position,bu-t the butt end of the back member 12 is thereby moved into right angle engagement with the transverse member.

11. This is shown in FIGURE 6. Such movement locks the back 12 into appropriate position with respect. L

to the remainder of the frame.

To lock the base portion onto the hinge 25, .a backward push of the transverse member 11 is required and this places the shank of the stud 38'jin the locking position and well within the transverse portion of the bayonet joint 42. At the same time, of course, the pivot stud 32 1 moves to the opposite position in the slot 41. Again the locked position is shown in FIGURE 6. Because of this structure a positive locking means for locking the hinge 25 in the operative position is provided without in The pivot 33 moves upwardly within the confines of the slot 40 and the back portion 12 is free to move to the folded or unlocked position. is moved forwardly so that the pivot 32 moves within the confines of the slot 41 and the shank or stem of the stud 38' is moved to a position where it is free move.

outwardly through the open slot of the bayonet joint 42.

I claim: 1. A support hinge for folding members comprising in combination, a transverse support member having legs projecting forwardly and a vertical member having depending legs, said depending legs abutting the transverse 1 legs at right angles thereto in the operative position, and a hinge formed of an integral piece of material bent in an arc and forming spaced right angled triangles with a base and an altitude, the arcuate bend being the hypotenuse thereof, said base having rearwardly projecting ears pivotally secured to the transverse legs, and

the altitude pivotally connected to the depending leg members, said arcuate hypotenuse being a support brace between said transverse legs and said depending legs in the operative position.

2. A brace support for a folding backpack comprising in combination, a U-shaped transverse support member having forwardly projecting legs, a U-shaped vertical back member having downwardly projecting legs for abut ting contact with the forwardly projecting legs substantially at right angles thereto in the operative position, a pivoting bracesupport for foldably securing said leg members together, said brace support having spaced right triangle shapes joined along the hypotenuse in an areaate curve, and rearwardly projecting ears along the base of said triangle shapes for pivotally securing each of the transverse legs therebetween, and pivot means securing the depending legs adjacent the ends thereof to said brace along the altitude thereof, said arcuate hypotenuse being a support brace between said transverse legs and said depending legs in the operative position.

The transverse support 11 l 3. A support hinge for folding members comprising in combination, a transverse support member having legs projecting forwardly and a vertical member having depending legs, said depending legs abutting the transverse legs at right angles thereto in the operative position, and a hinge formed of an integral piece of material bent in an arc and forming spaced right angled triangles with a base and an altitude, the arcuate bend being the hypotenuse thereof, said base having rearwardly projecting ears pivotally secured to the transverse legs, and the altitude pivotally connected to the depending leg members, said arcuate hypotenuse being a support brace between said transverse legs and said depending legs in the operative position, said altitudes and said depending legs having cooperating dimples and detents, and said bases and said transverse legs also having cooperating dimples and detents for frictionally holding the back and transverse members in the braced operative position.

4. A brace support for a folding backpack comprising in combination, a U-shaped transverse support member having forwardly projecting legs, a U-shaped vertical back member having downwardly projecting legs for abutting contact with the forwardly projecting legs substantially at right angles thereto in the operative position, a pivoting brace support for foldably securing said leg members together, said brace support having spaced right triangle shapes joined along the hypotenuse in an arcuate curve, and rearwardly projecting ears along the base of said triangle shapes for pivotally securing each of the transverse legs therebetween, and pivot means securing the depending legs adjacent the ends thereof to said brace along the altitude thereof, said arcuate hypotenuse being a support brace between said transverse legs and said depending legs in the operative position, said altitudes and said depending legs having registering dimples and detents, and said bases and transverse legs having registering dimples and detents for frictional cooperation in holding the back and transverse members in the braced operative position.

5. A support hinge for folding members comprising in combination, a transverse support member having legs projecting forwardly and a vertical member having depending legs, said depending legs abutting the transverse legs at right angles thereto in the locked operative position, and a hinge formed of an integral piece of material bent in an are forming spaced right angled triangles with a base and an altitude, the arcuate bend being the hypotenuse thereof, said base having rearwardly projecting ears pivotally secured to the transverse legs in a slot having limited longitudinal movement, and the altitude pivotally connected to the depending leg members in a slot having limited vertical movement, projecting studs on the legs of said transverse support member and said vertical member adjacent the ends thereof, and bayonet slots in said base and said altitude cooperating with said projecting studs locking the support hinge in the operative position, said arcuate hypotenuse being a positive lock support brace between said transverse legs and said depending legs in the operative position.

6. A support hingle for folding members comprising in combination, a transverse support member having legs projecting forwardly and a vertical member having depending legs, said depending legs abutting the transverse legs at right angles thereto in the operative position, and a hinge formed of an integral piece of material bent in an arc and forming spaced right angled triangles with a base and an altitude, the arcuate bend being the hypotenuse thereof, said base having rearwardly projecting ears pivotally and movably secured to the transverse legs for limited longitudinal movement in a slot, and the altitude pivotally and movablyconnected to the depending leg members for limited vertical movement in a slot, said arcuate hypotenuse being a positive lock support brace between said transverse legs and said depending legs in the operative position, said transverse and depending legs having outwardly projecting studs adjacent the ends thereof, and said bases and altitudes having cooperating bayonet slots frictionally locking said hinge on said studs in the braced operative position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,822,117 2/1958 Mack 224'8 FOREIGN PATENTS 56,633 8/1912 Austria.

GERALD M. FORLENZA, Primary Examiner. F. WERNER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A SUPPORT HINE FOR FOLDING MEMBERS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A TRANSVERSE SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING LEGS PROJECTING FORWARDLY AND A VERTICAL MEMBER HAVING DEPENDING LEGS, SAID DEPENDING LEGS ABBUTING THE TRANSVERSE LEGS AT RIGHT ANGLES THERETO IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION, AND A HINGE FORMED OF AN INTERNAL PIECE OF MATERIAL BENT IN AN ARC AND FORMING SPACED RIGHT ANGLED TRIANGLES WITH A BASE AND AN ALTITUDE, THE ARCUATE BEND BEING THE HYPOTENUSE THEREOF, SAID BASE HAVING REARWARDLY PROJECTING EARS PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE TRANSVERSE LEGS, AND THE ALTITUDE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE DEPENDING LEG MEMBERS, SAID ARCUATE HYPOTENUSE BEING A SUPPORT BRACE BETWEEN SAID TRANSVERSE LEGS AND SAID DEPENDING LEGS IN THE OPERATIVE POSITION. 